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Cytomegalovirus, Rapid Culture
Test Code17511
CPT Codes
87254
Preferred Specimen
In sterile container or VCM (or equivalent): 3 mL bronchial lavage/wash, BAL, tracheal aspirates, urine, tissue/biopsy, sterile body fluids
Swabs: Nasopharyngeal, throat, rectal lesion, saliva (neonate up to 3 months of age), urogenital or conjunctival transported in VCM or equivalent
Swabs: Nasopharyngeal, throat, rectal lesion, saliva (neonate up to 3 months of age), urogenital or conjunctival transported in VCM or equivalent
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Bone marrow collected in: Heparinized tube
Instructions
To maintain optimum viability, place swab or fluid into VCM (equal volumes of fluid and VCM) or equivalent and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8°C or kept on wet ice following collection and while in transit. If there will be a long delay before processing, specimens in VCM or equivalent should be frozen at -70°C or colder and transported on dry ice.
Storage or transport at -20°C is not acceptable. Raw (unpreserved) samples should only be refrigerated and not frozen. Tissue must be kept moist in small amount of sterile saline.
Storage or transport at -20°C is not acceptable. Raw (unpreserved) samples should only be refrigerated and not frozen. Tissue must be kept moist in small amount of sterile saline.
Transport Temperature
Specimens in VCM: Frozen -70° C
Other specimens: Refrigerated (cold packs)
Other specimens: Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
VCM
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days
Sterile container
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen -20° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days
Sterile container
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Bacterial transport media • Dry swab • Molecular transport systems • Semen • Slides • Specimens in formalin or other fixatives • Sputum • Stool specimens • Wooden-shaft or calcium alginate swabs
Methodology
Tissue Culture/Immunofluorescence
Setup Schedule
Sets up 7 days a week.
Report Available
Reports in 4 days.
Clinical Significance
CMV infections are common and usually asymptomatic. In patients who are immunocompromised, CMV may cause disseminated, severe disease. CMV may cause birth defects in a minority of infected newborns. Rapid culture provides results quickly in order to initiate therapy.
